Depression and chronic fatigue syndrome are two conditions that can make someone feel extremely tired, even after a good night’s rest. It’s possible to have both conditions at the same time. It’s also easy to mistake feelings of fatigue for depression and vice-versa.

Depression occurs when a person feels sad, anxious, or hopeless for an extended period of time. People who are depressed often have sleep problems. They may sleep too much or not sleep at all.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that causes a person to have continuous feelings of fatigue without any underlying cause. Sometimes chronic fatigue syndrome is misdiagnosed as depression.

Physical symptoms can also occur with depression. People may have frequent:

headaches

cramps

stomach upset

other pains

They may also have trouble going to sleep or sleeping through the night, which can lead to exhaustion.

People with chronic fatigue syndrome often have physical symptoms that aren’t commonly associated with depression. These include:

joint pain

tender lymph nodes

muscle pain

sore throat

Depression and chronic fatigue syndrome also affect people differently when it comes to their daily activities. People with depression often feel very tired and aren’t interested in doing any activity, regardless of the task or the required amount of effort. Meanwhile, those with chronic fatigue syndrome usually want to engage in activities but just feel too tired to do so.

To diagnose either condition, your doctor will try to rule out other disorders that can cause similar symptoms. If your doctor thinks you have depression, they may refer you to a mental health expert for evaluation.

Unfortunately, people who have chronic fatigue syndrome may become depressed. And while depression doesn’t cause chronic fatigue syndrome, it can certainly cause increased fatigue.

Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome have sleep disorders, such as insomnia or sleep apnea. These conditions often make fatigue worse because they prevent people from getting a good night’s rest. When people feel tired, they may not have the motivation or energy to do their daily activities. Even walking to the mailbox can feel like a marathon. The lack of desire to do anything can put them at risk for developing depression.

Fatigue may also fuel depression. People with depression often feel very tired and don’t want to take part in any activities.

To make a depression diagnosis, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and give you a questionnaire that assesses depression. They may use other methods, such as blood tests or X-rays, to make sure another disorder isn’t causing your symptoms.

Before diagnosing you with chronic fatigue syndrome, your doctor will run several tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. These may include restless leg syndrome, diabetes, or depression.

Taking antidepressants can sometimes make symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome worse. That’s why your doctor should screen you for depression and chronic fatigue syndrome before prescribing any medication.

Several treatments can help people with chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, or both. These include:

Talk to your doctor if you’re struggling with prolonged fatigue or think you have depression. Both chronic fatigue syndrome and depression cause changes that can negatively affect your personal and work life. The good news is that both conditions can improve with the right treatment.